Towel fixtures



A. F. WALTZ TOWEL FIXTURES Aug. 16, 1955 Filed April 25, 1951 INVENTOR fluian Z'/7/iz M Mm) ATTORN EY United States Patent Ofitice Z,715,48 Faitented Aug. 16, 1955 TOWEL FIXTURES Anton F. Waltz, Port Washington, N. Y.

Application April 25, 1951, Serial N0. 222,860

8 Claims. (C1. 211-423) This invention relates to rods or bars for towel futtures and the like. e. g. insertable er replacement bars for fixtures that are permanently installed in bathrooms, lavatories and like localities. An important purpose of the invention is to provide a rod which is adapted t be inserted easily into the conventional recesses of a pair cf projecting brackets of porcelain, metal or other material, and which, when so inserted, is unremovable unless the rod or bar is destroyed, as at a time When it is to be replaced.

It will be understood that a cornmon practice for initial installation of towel fixtures of this general nature has been to insert the prior type of towel holding bar into osition in the recesses or sockets in the porcelain brackets and then to cernent the latter in place, so that the assembly becomes essentially a permanent part of the tiling or Wall. I-Iowever, in order to replace the bar at any desired time, i. e. to install a new bar of conventional type, it has been necessary to break 01' dig one of the projecting porcelain members from its fixed seat in the Wall; as a result the Wall is invariably defaced and the bracket often broken or damaged, and the replacement always involves a costly resetting or cementing job. Nevertheless, permanent towel fixtures are widely used, especially in apartments, hotels and other rented or public buildings, to prevent unauthorized rernoval, and are often used elsewhere, for reasons of initial economy or the like. Furthermcre, in pnblic or rented premises, it is irnportant that the rod, as well as the brackets, be non-removable, i. e. such Lhat no one can take it out without destroying it.

One of the objects o1" this invention is therefore to provide an improved rod which may be very readily inserted into a pair of fixed brackets er like rnembers and whieh, after insertion is not only firmly held but essentially unremovable.

Another object of the invention is specifically to provide a replacement rod of new and efiective construc tion, e g. to be nsed when the original rod has become damaged or unsightly, the replacement rod being readily insertable so as to have the same unitary appearance and to be supported in the same way as the original, without involving any breakage or damage of the fixecl bracket members 0r the Wall.

Other objects are to provide a novel and improved towel bar device 0f insertable, non-removable character as explainecl above: which is 0f relatively light weight, is inexpensive, and is easy to assernble and insert; Which may satisfactorily be made in the way now comrnonly preferred for ordinary towel bar elements, i. e. of wood having a smooth exterior coating accomplished by painting or by a sleeve of Pyralin or other plastic materiai; which is such that it can, if desired, be manufactured in a single length and then be very easily cut 0r adjnsted, at the time of nse, to fit any given spaeing of bracket fixtures; which has a pleasing and attractive appearance, fully resembling the efiect 0f a simple, non-insertable bar; and Which avoids the replacement roblems and expense described above.

Other objects of the invention inclucle such as Will be apparent from the following description and annexed drawings of certain advantageous embodiments thereof, set forth by way of example to illustrate the features and principles of improvement.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view, partly in horizontal section, of a towel rack having a pair of projecting porcelain brackets, permanently secured to a Wall surface, the replacement rod being shown as in final assembly;

Fig. 2 is an exploded, perspective view illustrating the several, disassembled arts thereof which coact to secure the rod in permanent position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the external appearance 0f each end of the seated rod;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view oi' an alternative structure in which a collar, plug and recessed coil spring are nsed at both ends of the replacement rod instead of merely at one end as in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the replacernent rod or bar is shown in its fully inserted, non-removable position in Fig. 1, it being noted at the outset that the rod body 19 may be constructed in round, hexagonal or other diflerent shapes, i. e. of transverse seetion, but is shown as having the rectangular (specifically, sqnare) section now commonly preferred for towel bars of this general type.

The rod 19 is adapted to be pesitioned between and supported by a pair of projecting brackets 11, 12 e. g. of porcelain as shown, which a1e permanently secured to a wall 13. such mounting of the brackets being illustrateci by the mounting lug 14 of the bracket 11, embedded in cement 15 in the wall structnre. The brackets 11, 12 are respectively provided with mutnally facing, recesses or sockets 17, 18, in whieh the ends of the present rod are expected to seat, e. g. in the same supporting fashion, ancl'in simulation of, the arrangement 0f the simple, conventional rod member that is to be replaced by the present, insertable device.

The new towel bar device illustrated in Figs: 1 and 2 comprises a rod body seetion 10 made of any desired material but preferably of wood (for which the invention is particulariy suited) having a protective and decorative coating. One end 29 of the rod 10 is cut 0ff in a plane section, for example at a right angle to the axis, and has a simple leaf. spring 21 afl"1xed to it, as by a tack 22 through an infolded portion of the spring (er by a pointed tang formed at a right angle to, and as an integral part of, the infolded portion of the spring), the angularly projecting outer portion neing then compressible toward the end 20. At its opposite end 24 the rod 10 has an axial soeket or recess 25 in which a light coil spring 26 is disposed. A sliding plug 27, made of wood 01' other suitably rigid material such as molded, extruded or machined plastic, and preferably having the edges of its outer end bevelled as shown, is inserte-cl against the spring 26 in the recess 25, the spring normally urging the plug at least part way out of the recess. A further, cooperating part of the bar assembly is a collar or bushi.ng (of wood, plastic or other material), adapted for sliding reception of the plug 27 and advantageously shaped and finished as if it Were an extension of the recessed end portion of the rod 10. The rod 10 preferably has a square or other non-circular periphery t0 prevent its turning, e. g. at the end 20 in the correspondingly shaped socket 18, and for further insurance against turning of the rod in Position, the rod recess 25, the plug 27 and the hole of the bushing 30, all preferably have a sqnare or other noncylindrical confignration.

In Order to install the bar in a pair of fixed or otherwise inner Wall of the bracket.

previously set brackets 11, 12 (such installation being to replace, for example, an ordinary rod that has been broken and removed), the collar 30 is first inserted by hand into te socket 17 of the bracltet o1 support 11, the heignt of the collar being preferably approximately the sarne as the depth of the socket so that after insertion the outer end 02 the collar is substantially flush with the The rod member 10 is next inserted into the opposite bracket 12, by pnshing the rod end 2i) into the socket 13 against the leaf spring 21 so that the latter is compressed. The sliding plug 27 is then pushed down so that its outer end is flush With the outer end 24 of the bar 10. Thereupon, by rocking it sidewise about its end, the bar 10 is slid into registration with the collar 30 so that the spring 26 forces the plug 27 into anal through the hole of collar 30. It will be unerstood that the length of the real 10 is a value selected so asto perrnit the operation last described; for example, the length of the rod body rnay be equal to the distance between the inner faces of the brackets, plus an amount equal t the penetration of the rod in the socket 18 when the leaf spring 21 is almost fully compressed. If the collar 30 is langer than shown, i. e. so that it projects appreciaoly from the bracket 11, the rod 16 should be correspondingly shorter; however, a neater appearance results whcn the meeting line of the rod and collar is (as shown) just at, or just below the inner face cf the bracket 11.

The final assembly is shown in Fig. 1, and in this position the rod cannot oe removed by any external manipulation, although its insertion has merely involved snapping it in place by the brief anti simple series of operations described above. Once inserted, moreover, the rod 10 is as securely retained and supported (by the described means, inclucling the plug 27) as the simple, noninsertable type Cf bar 19. It Will be understood that for esse of insertion there Will usually be a little endwise play in the assembly, although preferably taken up in a firin manner (when the rod is fully inserted) by the resilience of the leaf spring 21. Similarly, there Will be slight sidewise play of the rod assernbly, at least adjacent its end With respect to the socket 18, sufiicient to allow the described operations of angularly inserting the rcd end and swinging the rod into place.

Although the structure of Figs. 1 and 2 is markedly easier to use and for that and other reasons is at present preferred, Fig. 4 Shows an alternative arrangernent for securing the rod 184 into position between the pair of projecting porcelain arrns 11, 12. In this device the leaf spring 21- is not used. In its place, the otherwise similar rod 10a is provided at its end 20a, with a recess 31 identicai With the recess of the rocl 10 (and also of the other end 24 of the rod 19a), the recess 31 being furnished with a light coil spring 32 and a sliding plug 33, and the latter parts being similar in forrn and function to their corresponding members 26 and 27, respectiveiy at the opposite end of the rod 10a, i. e. as described in connection with the rod 10. A collar 34 is provided for the insertion into recess 13 to engage the sliding plug 33.

The rod 10a of Fig. 4 is assembled and inserted by first placing the collars and 34 respectively by band into the recesses 17 and 18 provided therefor in the pair of projecting brackets. Thereupon one end of the rod la, say the encl 24, is pushed against the collar 30 in the recess 17, so that the sliding plug 27, after seating in the collar, is forced back (from its normal, disengaged position of much greater projection) against the coil spring 26, compressing the latter. The sliding plug 33 at the opposite end 20a of the rod 1Ia is then pnsl1ed down so its outer end is flush With such end of the rod, the coil spring 32 being thereby considerably compressed. Thereupon the end 20a of the rod 10a is siid sidewise into registration With the collar 34 so that the spring 32 forces the plng 33 into the hole provided therefor in the collar 34 and securely places the rod 10a in a non-removable osition as sl1own in Fig. 4.

lt will now be seen that the structures of Figs. 1 and 2 and Fig. 4 each provide a very readily inserted rod assembly, which when installed is in *eliect per manently iocated in place Ell'ld. rnay be such as to simulate (es shown in Fig. 3) the single, mit non-insertable rot! heretofore usually employed. It has been explained that prior practice for substituting a rod whenever the original one displayed an unsightly appearance, involved oreaking out one of the permanently cernented bracket .mcrnbers, and its subsequent, time-consuming re-installatic-n, there being usually some damage to the Wall, and often breakage of the bracket if it is of porcelain composition. By virtue of the present invention, rod structures are provided which can be easily substituted withont such destruction of property, and indeed With the sknplest of operations. At the same time the bar may be 0f the coated wenden construction usually desired, the mechanical :neans for seating and holding the bar being especialiy adaptecl for such constructions as weil as for avoiclance of undue expense in manufacture. though specially adapted for replacement use, the described r0ds may also be employed in initial installations, e. g. to avoid the inconvenience of cernenting the end fixtures in place while they are actually holding a i'0d.

The devices cf the invention can be adapted to fit any specified dimensions or measurements between a pair of projecting brackets or the like, anti indeed rnay be actually cut to fit, if desired, at the tixne the device is insertecl. While the structnre of Fig. 4, including reccsses at both ends, may not ordinarily permit mucl1 reduction in lengtl1, the device of Figs. 1 and 2 is of special advantage in these respects. That is to say, the rods can be manufactured in a single standard length, at least as great as the maximum expected span between brackcts; then for any given installation, the end 20 of the r0d rnay be simply sawed ofi, on a plane and preierably right-angled section, to provide the exact length desired. Ti1e leaf spring 21 and tack 22 being supplied unattached, the leaf spring is thereupon simpiy tacked to the cut end 269 of the rod, completing the device for insertion. In consequence it will be seen that the structure is readily adapted to fit any required measurements bctween brackets, even spacings tl1at depart froxn comventional values.

It is to be unclerstood that the invention is not limited to the specific devices herein shown and described laut n1ay be embodiecl in other forms without departure from 1ts spirit.

I clairn:

l. A rocl device adapted for insertion between spaced snpporting means, comprising a rod having a recess in one end, an outwardly spring-pressed plunger in said recess, and collar rneans adapted to be conformably seated in a socket in one of the supporting mea-ns, said collar means having transverse external dimensions, for seatxng in said socket, equal to th0seof the rod, said collar rneans having a recess which conforrnably receivcs the plunger at a locality disposed to be insidesszcl socket recess of one of the supporting means, and

s aid coliar means being shaped and disposed for abutnng the end of the rod around the plunger when the rod is inserted between the supporting means With the piunger spring-pressed into said recess of the collar means, said plnnger having side Wall structure fitting in the recess of the c0llar means in perpendicular sidewise engagement with the latter inside cf saicl collar recess, for support of the plunger by the collar mea-ns against removal of the rod by sidsiwise displacement, and said collar means being externally shaped to be pushed directly axially into the aforesaid socket through the rod-facing opening of said socket.

2. In cornbination, a rod having a recess in one end, a coil spring and a sliding plunger outwardly pressed thereby, in said recess, separate collar rneans insertable in a socket of a supporting fixture and having a hole extending entirely through said collar rneans for C011- formably receiving the plunger, said coil spring urging said plunger entirely through said hole in the collar means, annd spring means adapted to be attached to the other end of the rod, to extend outwardly therefrony, said plunger having side Wall structure fitting in the recess of the collar means in perpendicular sidewise engagement with the latter inside said collar recess, for support of the plunger by the collar means against removal of the rod by sidewise displacement, and said collar means being externally shaped to be pushed directly axially into the aforesaid Socket through the rodfacing opening of said socket.

3. A towel holding rod device adapted to be insertecl between a pair of supporting mernbers having sockets faci.ng each other, comprising a rod having at least one transverse plane end, a leaf spring attachecl to said end to be cornpressed upon insertion of said end in one of the sockets, said leaf spring being shaped for compressive engagernent with the bottorn of said one socket and being dimensioned to be Wholly enclosed by said one socket, said rod having at its opposite end an axial recess, a coil spring seated in the recess, a collar adapted to seat in the other cf the sockets, and having trans Verse dimensions equal to those of the rod, said collar being externally shaped to be pushed directly axially into said other socket through the rod-facing opening of said socket, and a sliding plug in said axial recess, urged outwardly by the spring and adapted to enter the collar, said collar having a hole which conforrnably receives the plug at a locality disposed to be inside said other socket.

4. A rod device cornprising a rod having a recess in one end, a coil spring in said recess, a sliding plunger in the recess, urged outwardly by the spring, and a separate eollar adapted to be disposed substantially wholly within a socket of a fixture, said collar having transverse dimensions, throughout its axial extent, equal to those of the rod, said collar having a hole entirely through it for conformably receiving the plunger, and said plunger being displaced into the collar by the spring, to hold the rod in permanent position, upon insertion of the rod between said fixture and another fixture, said plunger having side wall structure fitting in the hole of the collar in perpendicular sidewise engagement with the latter inside said hole, for support cf the plunger by the collar against removal of the rod by sidewise displacement, and said collar being externally shapecl to oe pushed directly axially into the aforesaid sccket through the rod-facing opening of said socket.

5. A rod device adapted to seat in a pair of spaced, facing sockets, said rod device having compressible means at each end for holding the rod in place, each of said compressible rneans being concealed when the rod device is inserted in the sockets, and one of said compressible means comprising recessed structure in the corresponding end of the rod, an outwardly springpressed plunger in said recess, and collar nreans transversely dimensioned identically with the rod and adapted to seat substantially wholly within the corresponding socket and having a hole for conformably receiving the plunger, said plunger having side Wall structure fitting in the hole of the collar means in perpendicular sidewise engagernent with the latter inside said hole, for support of the plnnger by the collar means against ren1oval of the rod by sidewise displacement, and said collar means being externally shaped to be pushed directly axially into its aforesaid corresponding socket through the rod-facing opening of said corresponding socket.

6. A rod device as described in clairn 5, wherein the c0rnpressible means at the other end of the rod comprises a spring projecting frorn said end, adapted to be cornpressed against the bottorn of the other socket when said other end of the rod is inserted in the last-meniioneci socket, said last-mentioned spring being shaped and dimensioned to be wholly enclosed by said other socl;et upon insertion of the rod.

7. A rod device as deseribed in claim 5, wherein the compressible means at the other end of the rod compfises recessed structure in said other end of the rod, an ontwardly spring-pressed plunger in said last-mentioned recess, and collar means transversely dimensioned identically with the rod and adapted to seat substantially wholly Within the corresponding other socket and having a hole for conforrnably receiving said last-menioned plunger.

8. A rod device comprising a rod having a recess in one end, a coil spring in the recess, a sliding plunger in the recess outwardly pressed by the spring, a separate collar transversely dimensioned identically With the rod containing a cavity of the size of the plunger entirely through the collar, said collar being shaped and arranged to be seated wholly within a fixtnre socket to receive the plunger, the other end of the rod having a plane transverse surface, and a leaf spring attached to said last-mentioned surface, to project endwise from the rod, said leaf spring being shaped for compressive engagement With the bottorn of another fixture socket into which said other end of the rod is adapted to be inserted, and said leaf spring being dimensioned to be wholly enclosed by said other socket upon said insertion cf said other end of the rod, said plunger having side wall structure fitting in the cavity cf the collar in perpendicular sidewise engagement with the latter inside said cavity, for support of the plunger by the collar against rernoval of the rod by sidewise displacernent, and said collar being externally shaped to be pushed directly axially into the firstqnentioned fixture socl et through the rod-facing opening of said socket.

Referenees Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1550485 Balmer Aug. 18, 1925 1831855 Fullrnan Nov. 17 1931 2,032,440 Schenker Mar. 3, 1936 2133871 Reed OCt. 13, 1938 2196571 Van Gorden Apr. 9, 1940 2,415 John Feb. 4, 1947 2,542941 Post Feb. 20, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 426,572 Great Britain Apr. 5, 1935 

